Watch mechanism lubrication

The tiny gears inside a mechanical watch use specialized oils that must stay in place for decades without dripping or drying out, even though the parts are smaller than a grain of rice. These watch oils are engineered to have just the right "stickiness" so they cling to microscopic pivot points through surface tension, rather than flowing away under gravity like normal oils would. A single drop of watch oil can lubricate hundreds of contact points, and premium Swiss watch oils can cost over $1,000 per liter because they must remain chemically stable for 20-30 years without breaking down. Watchmakers use special syringes under magnification to apply amounts smaller than a pinhead, because too much oil would gum up the mechanism and too little would cause wear.